Placing a hand gently on my lower back, he guided me through the back door.

I was somewhat relieved to see that Taylor was out in the back yard chasing around his son, while Natalie sat nearby laughing.

They looked like such a wholesome family unit, it made my stomach lurch just to think about it.

“Oh, Andy. Why don’t you put her down for a bit? She can sleep in one of the spare bedrooms-“ Mrs. Hanson offered.

“Oh, it’s okay, really.” I said genuinely, easing myself carefully onto a seat on a wooden bench. “If she wakes up and I’m not around she’ll freak out, I’d like to be able to keep an eye on her in a strange place anyway.” I smiled assuredly, and was thankful when Mrs. Hanson didn’t press the issue.

“Lily really is the sweetest kid.” Isaac continued, sitting next to me and opening a can of beer. “She hardly cries, and she’s so smart.”

“She must have inherited that from her mother,” Isaac’s father spoke up from a lawn chair on the other side of the deck. “What did you go to school for again?”

“Teaching.” I replied. “I want to be a high-school history teacher…”

“Any luck finding a job around here?” Diana replied.

“No,” I admitted sadly. “I’ve been looking online at the job postings, but most jobs are either looking for elementary school teachers or they’re clear across town.”

“You know, I admire that in you, Andy.” Mrs. Hanson continued. “When my kids were small I could never even imagine going to work and leaving them in someone else’s care. I wanted to be with them every second.”

I rested my cheek against Lily’s warm body. “Well, ideally, that’s probably what I would want too, but it’s just not… it’s not in the cards right now.”

“Oh, do you know who just got married?!” Mrs. Hanson turned to her husband quickly, “Taylor’s friend Jeremy, they eloped in Vegas of all places. His parents were so disappointed! You went to school with him, didn’t you Andy?”

I nodded slowly, but didn’t remember. She didn’t need my input anyway, already continuing on with the conversation.

I felt Isaac’s warm hand on my knee, and I looked up at him with a smile.

“Do you want me to hold her for a bit? In case your arms get tired?” He offered.

“It’s okay, I’ve got her.” I whispered back.

He gave my knee a reassuring squeeze and turned his attention back to the conversation.

Taylor came clomping up the stairs carrying Ezra. He shot me a brief glare before stomping off toward the house. Natalie followed lightly behind and sat down heavily on a deck chair. She opened a bottle of water from the cooler and sighed.

“Your daughter is really adorable. She’s so well behaved too!” Natalie smiled, and lightly pat her stomach, “I hope this one is a girl. I would love to have a daughter.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was getting late when I carried Lily’s sleeping body toward my mother’s car. It was already dark out, but the Hanson’s driveway was remarkably well lit.

I carefully buckled Lily into her car seat, and backed from the back seat, closing the door behind me quietly.

I turned and bumped into a body, crying out in alarm. “Oh!”

“Hey, sorry.” Isaac said softly, holding out his arms to steady me. “I heard you were leaving and came out to say goodnight.” He peeked in the back seat. “Lily’s out?”

I nodded. “Zac chasing her around the back yard really wore her out today.”

Isaac laughed. “Yeah, he’ll do that.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and for a brief moment, he looked like a nervous teenager trying to muster the courage for a good-night kiss. “Listen, what are your plans for tomorrow?”

“Umm… tomorrow, I’m going to pick up some furniture. I finished painting Lily’s room and I’ve got to get her a crib and some other things….” I replied.

“Oh… okay…” He seemed somewhat disappointed.

“What are you doing Monday?” I asked.

“Nothing, yet. Why?” He smiled.

“Would you like to come over? I’ll cook you a nice meal, and we can… hang out.”